Civil Protection Min. Stylianidis visits Ithaca island, hit hardest by the storm
Climate Crisis & Civil Protection Minister Christos Stylianidis inspected the damage incurred by the 'Ballos' rainstorm on the Ionian island of Ithaca, on Saturday.
He met with the mayor of the island Dionyssios Stanitsas and other officials, and spoke with residents also as well as personnel of the Fire Brigade, the Hellenic Police and the Port Authority.
Stylianidis said he was ordered by the prime minister to visit the island, which faced the brunt of the weather front "with 345mm of rainfall on this small island, the fourth or fifth rainfall record, according to specialists." He praised the mayor and the town council for breaking down low walls at the port that prevented the accumulated water from flowing into the sea, "otherwise they would have had casualties."
The minister said he and his delegation visited the church, homes, and businesses. "The island needs immediate help. [...] The prime minister has ordered us to move ahead immediately," he said, that's why he was accompanied by Deputy Minister Christos Triantopoulos, responsible for restoration issues following natural disasters.